President Joe Biden, 81, emerged from a seven-day retreat at Camp David on Thursday afternoon to prepare for the highly anticipated debate against former President Donald Trump. After spending a week in intensive preparation, Biden left the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains via Marine One to Joint Base Andrews, where he boarded Air Force One en route to Atlanta, Georgia. The first general election debate will take place at CNN’s headquarters.
Upon arrival, Biden waved to reporters and appeared to be wearing a new pair of Cole Haan’s ØriginalGrand Energy Twin Oxfords. Last week, he celebrated the Juneteenth holiday at his Rehoboth Beach home before heading to Camp David for debate preparation.
Michael Tyler, communications director for Biden-Harris 2024, suggested that Trump might not attend the debate, pointing out Trump’s history of skipping debates and using them for entertainment. However, there is no indication that either candidate will miss the debate.
In an interview with Kate Bolduan, Tyler criticized Trump’s handling of issues like Roe v. Wade and his economic policies, suggesting that Trump avoids discussing these topics because they are unpopular with the American public. Tyler emphasized that Biden is prepared to address these issues during the debate.
The debate is seen as a crucial moment for Biden, who is the oldest president in history, as it will test his mental fitness on stage without a teleprompter or assistance from aides during commercial breaks. Both campaigns have highlighted their opponent’s gaffes, but experts believe Biden cannot afford to make mistakes during the debate.
Biden has faced criticism for several viral moments, such as appearing disoriented during an event with paratroopers in Italy and seeming to pause before leaving the stage at a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama. The White House has defended these incidents, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissing them as “cheap fakes” and emphasizing that Biden was simply engaging with those around him.
